Protests took place on beaches around the nation on 1 February 2014 over the Western Australian government’s shark cull, which has followed seven fatal attacks[2] during the last two years.

On the Australian Centre for Cultural Environmental Research blog Conversations with AUSCCER[3], Leah Gibbs and Andrew Warren of the University of New England highlighted the local and international reactions to the shark cull[4]. They argue:

But what exactly is he [Colin Barnett WA Premier] protecting Western Australians from? The cull strategy is based on no scientific evidence and no environmental assessment.

…Perhaps there are two good things coming out of this series of events. First, it has mobilised the community on an environmental issue – something we haven’t seen on such a large scale in Australia in some time. And second, it is slowly highlighting the use of related strategies in other states.